Kurt

                Later that night, Kurt sat silently at his vanity, mechanically performing his moisturizing routine as he replay the last couple of hours over in his mind. After his dad had called him down into the kitchen, Kurt somehow managed to spill everything he had kept hidden from his dad from the several years he was bullied. Kurt had tried to summarize the general idea of what had gone on, but his father sat so seriously across from him, that Kurt couldn’t help but spill everything once he started. He did have to admit that Blaine’s comforting presence next to him, occasionally squeezing his hand, gave him courage through the most difficult parts.

                Once Kurt had finished, Burt did nothing except sit still. He didn’t say a word.

                “Uh…Dad, are you okay?” asked Kurt worriedly. I knew this was a bad idea, he thought.

                “No Kurt, I’m not okay. I just found out my son has been bullied for years because he was gay, how do you expect me to feel? I’m actually surprised I’ve managed to sit still instead of beating every single one of those kids to a pulp. Especially after today…I’m so sorry you’ve had to gone through all of that kiddo. Really, I am. But the one thing that hurts me more than the fact that you’ve been practically assaulted every single day is the fact that you’ve never told me anything about this. Why?”

                Burt just looked so disappointed in him. Kurt shifted uncomfortably in his seat and blinked a few times, trying to abate another onslaught of tears. He was so tired of crying.

                “I guess I just wanted to protect you. Once mom died…you were so sad. I mean, I was too. It was so hard after she died…it seemed like it took years to even feel a little better. Every single day was just so miserable for a really long time. I knew you were working so hard to support us and I didn’t want to make it worse than it already was. I mean, especially after your heart attack…I couldn’t even think of adding something to your life that could affect your health, Dad. It was so scary when you were in the hospital, I can’t even bear the thought of losing you, not again.”

                Before he could say another word, Burt was up from his seat at the table and was standing next to him, pulling Kurt to his chest in a bear hug. Burt’s strong arms around him calmed his aching heart just a little. While Blaine also had the ability to calm him down, there was something so simple and straightforward with the love his father had for him.

                “I’m so sorry about everything, buddy.  I promise I’m not going anywhere and I promise I’m going to fix this for you.”

                Kurt nodded into his dad’s neck and hugged him a little harder. Once they let go of each other, Kurt went to sit back down to discuss what his father planned on doing with the bullying, when he noticed Blaine looking at the two of them wistfully, his eyes looking a little red.

                “Blaine?” Kurt asked softly.

                “Hmmm…?” Blaine shook his head a little to clear his thoughts and blinked a few times. Kurt titled his head a little to the side, trying to get an idea of what was going through Blaine’s mind at that moment.

                Kurt padded over to Blaine and placed a warm handle on his shoulder. He bent down a little to look Blaine in the eye.

                “What’s going on?” he asked softly. Kurt’s gentle inquiring made Blaine’s eyebrows raise and his eyes widen, like he was so surprised that Kurt had picked up on the smallest shift in his emotions when Kurt was an emotional wreck himself. Kurt gave him his most stern look, warning him against trying to brush off whatever what was troubling him.  

                “Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just…you guys have a really good relationship. It’s nice to see, that’s all,” said Blaine quietly, breaking his gaze from Kurt’s.

                “Oh, Blaine…” Kurt moved his hand to cup Kurt’s jaw. He pressed his forehead to Blaine’s and looked right into his beautiful eyes. “I’m sorry,” he breathed over Blaine’s lips.

                “It’s not your fault,” he responded, just as quietly.

                Burt cleared his throat behind them and Kurt stepped back from Blaine, blushing.

                “Blaine, bud, you know we consider you to be a part of this family. If you ever need to talk to someone…”Burt trailed off.

                “Thanks, Burt. Really, you have no idea how much that means to me to hear you say that,” Blaine says.

                “I think this calls for a group hug!” Kurt exclaimed, trying to somewhat dissolve the tension in the air.

                Burt and Blaine’s rumbled laughter filled the room and they both shrugged. Blaine stood up from his chair and approached Burt and Kurt. They both had an arm around each other and their free arms were opened wide, inviting him into their embrace.

                “How does this even work?” he asked, laughing as he came closer.

                “I don’t know kid, just get in here!”

                Blaine tucked himself into Burt’s side and Kurt came around to snuggle next to Blaine. This is too cozy for its own good, Kurt thought. But it is nice. Kurt knew how nice a hug from his dad felt when he needed it and he knew Blaine couldn’t find this kind of fatherly love at home.

                Once the group hug had run its course, everyone sat back down at the table.  Kurt knew this conversation was far from over.

                “In all seriousness now, Kurt, something really needs to be done about this Karofsky kid. Now, our options are going to the police, going to Figgins and seeing if he can somehow absorb something into his thick skull, or switching schools. What do you think is the best solution here, Kurt? Because I don’t think there’s really anything else I can do.”

                Kurt paled at the thought of his dad going to the police. He knew the police wasn’t much of an option. He didn’t have any concrete evidence and he just knew Karofsky would lie through his teeth when questioned. Kurt didn’t want to out Karofsky, but he really had no choice. Now that he’s told his dad what happened, his dad was just so stubborn, Kurt knew he wouldn’t stop until he had gained some sort of justice for what had happened to his son. The thought of going to another school was just as terrifying as returning to McKinley. Kurt couldn’t even think of another high school in their area, except for maybe Lima High, which was Blaine’s old high school.

                There’s always Dalton…he mused. No, no, absolutely not. Do not put these thoughts into your head, Kurt Hummel. It’s not like dad and Carole could afford to send you to a private school.

                “Dad, I really don’t think going to the police is a good idea. It’s not like there were any witnesses and I know Karofsky would just lie through his teeth about everything.  He’s not just going to sit there and let me out him dad; he’s going to deny everything.”

                “He threatened to kill you, bud, the police take that kind of thing seriously.”

                Kurt sighed, exasperated. “Dad, I know, I know they take this kind of thing seriously, but they won’t take it seriously from me. Not a gay kid. This is Ohio. Do you think the police here are going to take me seriously without any evidence and Karofsky denying everything? No.”

                Burt rubbed a hand over his face and took a deep breath. “You’re right. What about going to the Principal?”

                “I don’t know Dad.” Kurt toyed nervously with the fringe of the blanket that he threw over the back of chair at one point. “I mean, it’s worth a shot. But Figgins is kind of hard-headed. He’s going to want evidence and I know he’s going to want to talk to Karofsky and his parents and I don’t know if I can just sit there while he denies everything.” Kurt’s voice was increasing in pitch as he became increasingly frustrated and upset. Blaine patted his arm re-assuredly.

                “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to talk to Carole when she gets home from work. All three of us and maybe Finn will have a meeting with Figgins and explain to him what happened, without Karofsky. We’ll go from there, alright?”

                “Okay. I just wished we didn’t need to wait until Monday. I just want to get it over with. I don’t know why, but I feel scared, Dad. I know Karofsky doesn’t have the guts to do something outside of school but…still.”

                Kurt really had no idea what was going to happen. He trusted his dad so much but this…this just seemed incredibly impossible. It seemed like nothing could get better because the options were either not plausible or not ideal. Either way, he was going to have to suck it up and deal with it however he can. At least now he has people to help him through it.

                “Kurt, I’m going to try and call the school right now. I know it’s been a while since the school day ended, but Figgins may still be around. If not, well…we’ll just have to deal with it on Monday. Now, why don’t you guys go upstairs and watch a movie or something. Carole should be home soon and we have some things to discuss. We’ll figure something out for dinner. It’ll probably just be pizza or something easy. “

                “Make sure—“ Kurt interjected.

                “To get half veggie, I know,” said Burt.

                Kurt tried to keep a serious expression on his face, but he knew a small smile was creeping up on the corners of his lips.

                “Well, excuse me if I absolutely refuse to  let you and myself eat the grease sodden, meat covered pizza like Finn and Blaine like. Some of us want to try and stay healthy, Blaine.” Blaine was shaking next to him with supressed laughter and Kurt playfully jabbed an elbow in his ribs.

                “Oh come on Kurt, you only live once.”

                “Exactly. And that’s why I eat healthy, so I can prolong my life.” Blaine just rolled his eyes at Kurt.

                “Blaine Anderson, I swear to god. I convinced you to get rid of the grease you use to put in your hair, do not test me. Pizza grease is the next thing to go.” Kurt crossed his arms in playful anger.

                Blaine gasped, his mouth widening in a comical “O” shape and crossed his hands in front of his heart. “How you wound me, sir.”

                Burt just stood in the background, laughing at their silliness. “Okay you two. I have things to take care of. Go on upstairs.”

                Don’t mind if I do, Dad, thought Kurt. He would definitely not complain about having Blaine’s arms around him while they watched a movie. And maybe he could convince Blaine that he was feeling alright enough to kiss the memory of Karofsky’s lips away with Blaine’s own….

                “Door stays open,” Burt said pointedly.

                Kurt sighed dramatically, “Yes dad, we know.” Kurt grabbed his discarded blanket and Blaine’s hand and led him back up the stairs into his bedroom.

                Kurt folded the blanket expertly on the end of his bed and turned around to face Blaine. Blaine was silently observing him. He had this look in his eyes that couldn’t mean anything but, “I’m worried about you. Are you okay? What’s going on in your head? Let me help.”

                Without a word Kurt stepped closer to Blaine, who tugged him into his arms. Kurt hid in his most favourite spot, the curve of Blaine’s neck. No matter what, Kurt knew he was safe here, with Blaine’s warm arms wrapped around his and the combination of Blaine’s Burberry cologne, laundry detergent and fresh air clouding his senses.

                “That was really hard,” he mumbled.

                “I know. You were so brave and I am so, so proud of you. It’s going to get better from here, you’ll see,” Blaine said close to his ear. Blaine held him for a few minutes, which he was grateful for. As Blaine pulled away, he pressed a soft kiss to Kurt’s forehead. “I love you so much.”

                “I love you too,” Kurt replied, his voice thick with emotion. Blaine cupped his cheek with his palm.

                “How about I give you a nice backrub? It’ll relax you.”

                Kurt hummed in agreement, but precariously eyed the door. Blaine had given him several backrubs before. It hadn’t been that long ago since Blaine had convinced him that it would feel a lot better if he took his shirt off and Blaine massaged his favourite vanilla body butter into his skin. Kurt suddenly felt this incredible need to have Blaine’s hands on his skin, soothing him into a haze of relaxation. He would really rather not have Burt walk into his room as Blaine straddled him and rubbed body butter onto Kurt’s bare back.

                “I’d love one, but maybe we should…” Kurt felt the rumbling of the garage door opening underneath his feet. Carole was home.

                “Carole’s home now. That means we have at least a good half an hour of her staying downstairs to talk to Burt. I’ll keep it short, I promise. I just want to help you relax a little bit. If anything we just explain how it was completely innocent. Which it will be.”

                Blaine gave him one of his most breathtaking smiles and Kurt wanted to do nothing but kiss him for the rest of the night.

                A backrub will have to suffice until later, I suppose, Kurt thought.

                “Okay,” he complied. Kurt pulled his t-shirt over his head and lied down on his stomach and propping his elbows up with a pillow to support his head and neck. Kurt let out a long breath as he tried to relax into the mattress. His limbs felt heavy and his shoulders ached with tension. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the sound of Blaine shuffling around, looking for Kurt’s pot of body butter.

                The mattress dipped slightly as Blaine climbed onto it. Kurt heard Blaine unscrewing the cap of the body butter and placing it down somewhere around him. Blaine’s warm hands pressed against Kurt’s ribs as he carefully swung his leg over Kurt’s torso and straddled his hips with his knees. Kurt felt Blaine press along his back, the soft cotton of his t-shirt tickling his skin. The warmth from Blaine’s torso pressed along his back warmed him to his toes and Blaine pressed a kiss to the back of Kurt’s neck.

                “Ready?” he whispered into Kurt’s ear.

                “Always,” Kurt mumbled. He felt like he was already falling asleep and Blaine hadn’t even gotten started yet.

                Blaine chuckled softly and pressed a kiss to the smooth skin under his ear. Kurt felt Blaine sit back up and after a few moments warm hands were rubbing body butter skillfully into the tense skin and muscle of his back. Kurt groaned softly as Blaine encountered a particularly tough knot near his right shoulder.

                “How are you so good at this?” Kurt mumbled into the pillow.

                “To be honest with you Kurt, I have absolutely no idea.”

                As the warm scent of vanilla filled the air and Blaine’s hands continued to rub his back, Kurt sunk farther and farther into his sleepy haze. The last thing he could remember was saying something along the lines of, “You’re my favourite” to Blaine and Blaine’s hands kind of tracing some sort of heart shape into his skin as a reply before he fell into unconsciousness.